I Killed My Mother (2009)

A semi-autobiographical story about Hubert as a young homosexual at odds with his mother.

Director:

Xavier Dolan

Writers:

Xavier Dolan (screenplay), Xavier Dolan (dialogue)

Stars:

Anne Dorval, Xavier Dolan, François Arnaud

28 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anne Dorval	...	Chantale Lemming
Xavier Dolan	...	Hubert Minel
François Arnaud	...	Antonin Rimbaud
Suzanne Clément	...	Julie Cloutier
Patricia Tulasne	...	Hélène Rimbaud
Niels Schneider	...	Éric
Monique Spaziani	...	Denise
Pierre Chagnon	...	Richard Minel
Justin Caron	...	Jeune Hubert
Benoît Gouin	...	Directeur du pensionnat
Johanne-Marie Tremblay	...	Enseignante au pensionnat
Hugolin Chevrette-Landesque	...	Pensionnaire agressif #1 (as Hugolin Chevrette)
Francis Ducharme	...	Pensionnaire agressif #2
Pascale Audrey	...	Professeur d'arts
Émile Mailhiot	...	Élève #1 (as Émile Mailhot)

Storyline

Teenager Hubert haughtily regards his mother with contempt, and only sees her tacky sweaters and kitsch decorations. In addition to these irritating surface details, there is also his parent's cherished mechanisms of manipulation and guilt. Confused by this love/hate relationship that obsesses him more and more each day, Hubert drifts through the mysteries of adolescence - artistic discoveries, illicit experiences, the opening-up to friendship, and ostracism. The turbulent relationship between mother and son unfolds with a compelling combination of savage fury and melting affection. The stunning, semi-autobiographical directing debut of 20-year-old actor Xavier Dolan.

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Plot Keywords:

male nudity | gay teenager | gay son | gay sex | gay relationship | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shown in only 12 theaters in Quebec and 60 in France.

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Quotes

[subtitled version]
Hubert Minel: We should be able to kill ourselves. In our heads. And then be reborn. To be able to talk, look at each other, be together. As if we never met before.

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Crazy Credits

The 'special thanks' section of the credits begins with a thank-you to all of the extras who participated in the making of the film.

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Connections

Featured in MsMojo: Top 10 Best LGBTQ+ Coming of Age Movies (2019)

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Soundtracks

Ancestors
Composed by François Graham & Dave Douville
Performed by Surface of Atlantic

User Reviews

Mommy Dearest

"J'ai tue ma mere" seems a little rough around the edges and Xavier Dolan doesn't frame his shots so that they're picture perfect, but it seemed to suit the story. More to the point, what was happening inside the frame was much too interesting, and often moving, and I watched the movie in its entirety from beginning to end.

"J'ai tue ma mere" is the story of a gay teenager and his mother in a single-parent household. Man, do I know that territory well! I don't like the word "dysfunctional" - it's coined psycho-babble. The household depicted here is about as real as I've ever seen in a film. It functions as well as it can given the tight quarters mother and son share. They're continually sparring. Hubert, wary, entirely self-centred and quite the drama queen, goes on rants and tries to push his mother's buttons and test her love, but when he needs a favour, it's back to calling her "mommy". I loved her philosophical stoicism, an attitude she developed, I would guess, to protect herself from hurt, and I was touched by Hubert's back-pedalling when he thinks he's gone too far. Both sweet and raw, this is is a relationship of love. I smiled during the scene when mom brings up his homosexuality and he's caught off-guard. Actually, I smiled for a number of reasons, one of which was because, for once, Hubert was speechless.

The film is open-ended, the way life is, and the way the young view life, far-reaching and full of possibilities. It's a lovely film - warm, frank and not without a little self-deprecating humour and genuine wit (the shot of the Virgin Mary, within a specific context). I was left with the feeling that this was a chapter in a life, a relationship, and I felt optimistic. Perhaps, one day, Xavier Dolan will continue the story on film. I look forward to it.

Details

Official Sites:

Rezo Films [France]

Country:

Canada

Language:

French English Latin

Release Date:

15 July 2009 (France)

Also Known As:

I Killed My Mother

Filming Locations:

Longueuil, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD800,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mifilifilms

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White (monologues)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1